Tent frame



C. C.' CHITTIM Nov. 29, 1932.

TENT FRAME Filed April 22, 1931 .3 Sheets-Sheet c. c. cHlTrlM Nov. 29, 1932.

TENT FRAME Filed April 22, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1932. c. c. cHiTTnM Lz TENT FRAME Filed April 22, 1931 3 Sheets-@heet 5 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 CARL C. CHITTIM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI TENT FRAME Application iiled April 22,

This invention relates to tent frames and has for its object the production of a simple vand eflicient tent frame which is so constructed as to facilitate the erection of the tent 5 and at the same time, after the frame has been properly assembled, the tent will be thoroughly braced and efficiently supported.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for assembling the various parts of the tent framework, whereby the various parts will be efficiently supported and assembled so as to prevent the frame-work from collapsing.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient frame-work for a tent, which is so constructed as to practically double the usual head room contained in the popular umbrella and other similar styled tents of like dimensions.

Avstill further object of this invention is the production of a simple and elicient framework for tents and the like, which leaves the tent entirely free of obstruction in the center and in the doorway.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughoutthe following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the tent in a set-up position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the framework of the tent, the covering of the tent being removed therefrom and shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the tent and frame-work thereof;

Figure l is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 8;

- Figure 6 is a side elevation of a portion of one of the adjustable legs or poles, showing the manner of securing the sections of the legs or poles together; Figure 7 is a section taken on line 7 7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the side bars in a folded position;

Figure 9 is an edge elevation of one of the side bars in a collapsed or folded position;

ture shown in Figure 10; and

1931. Serial No. 532,053.

Figure l0 is a side elevation of the back pole assembly in a collapsed or folded position; I

Figure 11 is van edge elevation of the struc- Figure l2 is a side elevation of the front door assembly in a collapsed or folded position.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the tent frame comprises a front door assembly A, a back and ridge pole assembly B, and a pair of similarly constructed side bars C, constituting a side rail assembly.

The front door assembly comprises a pair of sectional legs or poles l, one section of the pole l being provided with notches 2, these notches being engaged by means of a suitable transverse pin 3 carried by the links 4, which links 4 are pivotally secured to the adjacent section of the legs, as clearly shown in Figure 6. A wing nut 5 is carried by the pin 3 for the purpose of permitting the pin to be tightened, thereby locking the plates or links 4 in firm engagement with the legs and in a set position. Suitable guide loops 6 75 are mounted upon the legs to permit one section of the leg to easily slide upon the other section. A

Each sectional leg of the front door construction is similarly constructed and the legs are pivotally connected at their upper ends to lthe transverse sectional braces 7, these braces 7 being pivotally connected or hingedly connected together by means of hinged plates 8, which hinged plates 8 are hingedly 85 secured by means of a pin 9 to a vertically eX- tending pole supporting bar l0. This bar l() is preferably provided with a tapering lower end ll and the adjacent ends of the transverse bracing members 7 are preferably bev- 90 eled to permit the same to readily hold around the tapered end l1 of the supporting bar 10 when the front door assembly is collapsed to the position shown in Figure 12. Two sections 7 of the transverse brace are 95 hinged together so that the hinge will open upwardly, thereby holding these transverse braces 7 in proper horizontal position when in a set-up position and when weight is placed thereon; This supporting bar 10 is 100 Aso provided with an upwardly projecting pin 12, which pin 12 passes through a. suitable aperture formed in the extreme end of the ridge pole 13, as will be hereinafter more fully described. A plurality of supporting plates 14 are carried by the ends of the transverse bracing bars 7, as clearly shown in Figure 2, these plates being carried by the bottom face of the transverse braces 7 near their outer ends, the plates lll being adapted to abut against the inner face of the legs 1, as shown in Figure 4, when in. a set-up position. rlhese plates 14 project beyond the ends of the transverse bracing bars or members 7 and are adapted to constitute a rest for the forward ends of the side bars 15.

The back and ridge pole assembly comprises a sectional leg 16, similarly constructed to the leg 1 previously described in connection with the front door assembly, and it is thought unnecessary to reiterate this description. The saine means is employed for holding the sections in a properly adjusted position through the medium of the wing nut clamp 17 acting in conjunction with the notches 18. rl`he back pole or leg 16 has hingedly secured thereto near its upper end,

the sectional ridge pole 13, this ridge pole 13 being hingedly joined as indicated at 19 near its center, this hinge being so constructed as to open upwardly, and to remain in a proper horizontal position when weight is placed thereon. As previously described, the forward end of the pole 13 is provided with a suitable aperture fitting over the pin 12 carried by the supporting bar 10. rlhe leg 16 is also provided with a suitable pin 2U which projects beyond the upper end of the leg 16 and is adapted to pass through a suitable hole, eyelet, or grommet, 'formed in the canvas of the tent. The pin 12 is adapted to also, eXtend through a suitable aperture, eyelet, or gronimet, formed in the tent, these pins projecting through the canvas as shown clearly in Figure 1.

rlhe side bar assembly comprises the sectionalside bar 15 hingedly connected as at 21, the hinge bein0f so constructed as to open upwardly and normally hold the side bar in a proper horizontally exten ded position when the frame is set-up. The forward end of each of the side bars is provided with a suitable projecting pin 22 which is adapted to extend through a suitable eyelet, aperture, or grominet, formed in the canvas of the tent, and the forward ends of each side bar 15 rest upon the projecting ends of the respective plates 111, as previously described, thereby efficiently supporting the forward ends of the side bars. rlhe rear section of each side bar has hingedly connected thereto an inclined brace 23, which brace 23 is provided with a suitable pin 24 at its inner end' for tting in suitably inclined apertures 25 formed in the relative sides of the legs 16. 1n this way, these inclined braces 23 will be efliciently supported upon the rear legs or back pole assembly, the braces preferably extending upwardly at an incline. Suitable pins 26 are carried by the outer ends of these braces 23 and these pins extend through suitable eyelets or other means formed in the body of the tent.

When setting up the tent, it of course should be understood that suitable pegs 27 may be employed for holding down the bottom edges of the tent in any suitable or convenient manner.

It should be further understood that owing to the structure illustrated, the front door assembly, the back and ridge pole assembly, as well as the two side bar assemblies, may be readily knocked down and folded to occupy a minimum amount of space in shipinent.

By referring particularly to Figure 8, it will be seen that the side bar assembly may be readily folded by folding one sectionvof the side rail 15 under the other, and then folding the inclined braces 23 back upon one of the sections of the side bar 15.

By referring to Figures 10 and 11, it will be seen that the back pole and ridge pole assembly may also be very conveniently collapsed and folded.

ln folding this part of the structure, the clamp 17 is released and the two sections of the leg 16 are permitted to slide one upon the other to occupy a minimum amount of space. lhe two sections of the ridge pole are then hinged one upon the other, and it should be understood that the pin 28 is set at a proper angle so as to permit the eXtreme outer end of the ridge pole to extend along the side of one of the leg sections of the leg 16, thereby permitting the back pole and ridge pole assembly to be folded to occupy a minimum amount of space.

ln shipping or packing the front door assembly, the section's'of the legs 1 are untightened through the loosening of the wing nut 5l upon the bolt 3 and these legs are slid one upon the other. Tlietransverse braces 7 are then forced upwardly. at their center so as to bring the sections of the braces 7 together and cause the same to extend substantially parallel with the inner end of the pole supporting bar 10. The legs 1 may then be swung around to extend parallel to the sections ofthe pole supporting bar to assume the position shown in Figure 12.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the adjustable frame-work illustrated and described, not only insures perfect tension, sturdiness and rigidity but through the medium of the side bars or side bar assembly structure extending along the eaves, a perfect outline of the tent will be maintained at all times. It should be. understood that the structure illustrated and described provides a very efficient tent structurev which is quite roomy and which is economical in bulk, weight and cost.

Furthermore, through the medium of the structure provided the entire frame-work except the side bars, may be placed in position from the outside, each part being selfsupporting, due to the Jfact that the front door assembly and the back pole and ridge pole assembly may be easily placed in position through the front end of the tent.

It should be understood that certain detail changes may be made in the mechanical construction without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A collapsible and knock-down frame for tents comprising a front door assembly, a back pole assembly, a ridge pole connecting the front door assembly with the back pole assembly, a pair of similarly constructed side bars, means for supporting one end of said side bars in engagement with the front door assembly, means carried by the various assemblies for securing the same to the covering of a tent, said side bars provided with downwardly inclined braces having projecting pins at their inner ends and said back pole assembly provided with apertures for receiving said pins and constituting a support for said inclined braces.

2. A frame-work Jfor a tent comprising a iront door assembly and side bars, said front door assembly comprising a plurality of vertical legs, transverse braces pivotally connected to the upper ends of said legs, means for supporting a ridge pole, rests provided upon the ends of said transverse braces for constituting a cradle for the forward ends of the side bars of a tent frame, and said side bars provided with tent covering engaging means for anchoring a tent covering in engagement with the side bars and also constituting means for holding the side bars against accidental displacement from said rests.

3. A frame-work of the class described comprising a front door assembly of a knockdown structure comprising a pair of legs, a pair of transversely extending braces pivotally connected together and pivotally secured to said legs, projecting cradle plates secured to the ends of said transverse braces and projecting beyond the ends thereof to constitute means for supporting the ends of side bars of a tent frame, a pole supporting bar pivotally connected to the pivot point of the transverse braces, and said side bars provided with projecting pins adapted to extend through a tent covering for fastening a tent covering thereon and also for holding said side bars against accidental displacement from said cradle plates.

4. A knock-down and collapsible framework for tents comprising a front door assembly, said front door assembly comprising a plurality of vertically extending vertically adjustable legs, a transversely extending brace, said brace comprising a pair of hingedly connecting members, a vertically extending pole supporting bar projecting from the hinged connection of the sections of the transverse brace and provided with a depending end fitting between the hinged sections and being iirmly gripped therebetween for preventing the downward swing of the hinged sections at their hinged ends, said vertically extending pole supporting bar having a projecting pin, means carried by the ends of said transverse brace for receiving side bars of' a tent frame-work, and said pins carried by said pole supporting bar adapted to extend through a ridge pole and through a covering for the tent.

5. A collapsible and knock-down frame for tents comprising a -front door assembly, a back pole assembly, a ridge pole connecting the front door assembly with the back pole assembly, a pair of similarly constructed side bars, means for supporting one end of said side bars in engagement with the front door assembly, means carried by the various assemblies for securing the same to the covering of a tent, said side bars provided with downwardly inclined braces having means at their inner ends Jfor detachably engaging said back pole assembly and constituting a support for said inclined braces.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

CARL C. CHITTIM. 

